We’re hiring a Prairie Editorial Fellow!

***Update: Deadline extended until May 24. 

We are excited to announce that Briarpatch is currently seeking applicants for a Prairie Editorial Fellowship.

The Prairie Editorial Fellowship will entail a combination of original reporting and editing under the guidance of Briarpatch’s Editor and Publisher, all covering stories from Prairie provinces – Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. As one of vanishingly few independent outlets based in the Prairies, especially ones that are considered national outlets, this fellowship will help ensure that vital stories on the Prairies are covered while providing crucial mentorship to an early-career journalist. 

This fellowship is also meant to bolster the editorial experiences and skills of the successful candidate. This position will last until April 30, 2025, and will see the successful candidate writing and editing pieces for both the print and online editions of both Briarpatch and its regional publication, the Sask Dispatch, as well as undertaking regular mentorship sessions.

The Fellow’s responsibilities include: 

• Editing at least two articles per issue of Briarpatch;
• Writing or editing one article per issue of the Sask Dispatch;
• Write three articles for Briarpatch, including one article requiring travel for on-site reporting;
• Producing at least 10 online articles to be published on the Briarpatch and/or Sask Dispatch websites.

In addition, the Fellow will participate in regular team meetings with the Briarpatch and Sask Dispatch editorial team, skill-building sessions, and one-on-one editorial meetings with the Briarpatch Editor to support the Fellow’s writing and editing. 

Pending their workload, the Fellow may also have opportunities to fact-check, copy edit, and proof articles at the discretion of the mentorship team, in order to improve those skills and deepen understanding of editing processes and standards.

Who we’re looking for

Briarpatch is seeking an ambitious self-starter who will come prepared to write a fresh multi-part series or will be able to pitch a variety of stories on the Prairies. As a national magazine, we’re looking for dynamic and nuanced stories that will resonate with readers across Canada and prompt them to think differently about the people, politics, and environment in the Prairies.

The Fellow will be curious about the magazine industry and understands that our mandate is to publish writing and artwork on current events, grassroots activism, electoral politics, economic justice, ecology, labour, food security, gender equity, Indigenous struggles, international solidarity, and other issues of political importance.

The position is only open to Black, Indigenous, and racialized applicants, and/or members of a religious minority due to grant funding. We encourage applicants to identify if they belong to any equity-seeking groups, as defined in Briarpatch’s Equity in Hiring policy. Briarpatch’s hiring committee will prioritize equity-seeking applicants for this position.

The Fellow must be based in the Prairies for the duration of the fellowship and is welcome to work out of the Briarpatch office in Regina, Saskatchewan. If you are planning to work remotely, stable Internet access and your own equipment for reporting are a must. As this Fellowship is meant to mentor up-and-coming journalists, we strongly encourage early-career candidates to apply.

This position is a unionized role, and based on the collective bargaining agreement, is remunerated at $23.43/hr at 35 hours per week, which is considered a living wage in Regina.

You should send us your CV and cover letter if:

• You have experience in journalism and editing, and want to build your skills in those fields.
• You enjoy working in small teams and excel best when you’re left to your own devices.
• You understand the state of independent media in the Prairies, and you’re passionate about building grassroots media here that challenges power.
• You know of important stories on the Prairies that aren’t being told and you want to tell them.
• You understand the importance of journalism that isn’t compromised by corporate interests.
• You’ve participated in, or believe in the power of, grassroots social movements.

Minimum qualifications

• At least one year of experience in journalism (including student and freelance journalism experience);
• proficiency with journalistic research techniques;
• ability to read and write fluently in English;
• ability to set and meet tight deadlines;
• familiarity and connection with left-wing, radical grassroots politics or communities in the Prairies;
• familiarity with labour movements and union politics in the Prairies;
• basic knowledge of or an interest in Saskatchewan politics, history, and movements;
• comfort working on a computer, and proficiency in using word processing software such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs;
• experience in social media management and posting;
• legally permitted to work in Canada.

We encourage applications from those who feel as though this role is a good fit, but may not meet any or all preferred qualifications.

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit a CV and cover letter, along with a published writing sample related to the core values of Briarpatch as soon as possible. Briarpatch’s hiring committee will be conducting interviews on a rolling basis and will accept applications submitted by May 24, 2024.

Please submit applications to givemeajob[at]briarpatchmagazine.com.

We ask that your cover letter be no longer than 1.5 pages and address the following questions:

• What drew you to Briarpatch and why are you applying for this position?
• What work experience do you have that you feel makes you a good fit for this position?
• What stories do you want to write about if you are the successful candidate?

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Board at chair [at] briarpatchmagazine.com. We look forward to hearing from you.